Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte speaks with media representatives as he arrives at the Dutch parliament for a session with leaders of CDA, ChristenUnie and D66 Parties about forming a new coalition in The Hague on September 27, 2017 | STR/AFP via Getty Images

Dutch parties strike coalition deal: report

The official presentation of the deal will be on Tuesday, if it gets approved by the parliamentary parties.

The four Dutch political parties that have been working on a coalition agreement have struck a deal, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in The Hague on Friday.

The plan will be presented to the parties’ parliamentary groups on Monday and, if approved, it will be officially presented on Tuesday, according to De Telegraaf newspaper.

“We all go back to our parliamentary groups [now], but I think we have [reached] a nice agreement,” Rutte said.

The Netherlands has been without a government since the March 15 parliamentary election, after several attempts to form a Cabinet failed.

If approved, the coalition will consist of Rutte’s center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the conservative Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the liberal D66 and the conservative Christian Union. Rutte will almost certainly remain prime minister.

On Monday, the record for the longest time without a Dutch government will be broken. It will have been 208 days since the election, breaking a record dating back to 1977.

D66 leader Alexander Pechtold said the long formation process was necessary to reach a “sustainable” deal.

Even if a deal is struck next week, it’s likely to take another couple of weeks before a new Cabinet can be sworn in.

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Vishnou

It may have taken a while because of the Dutch electoral system but, there you go: back on track 🙂

Posted on 10/7/17 | 11:49 AM CET

razer

Vishnou,

The archaic one wins all feudal system which is in UK and US, does not apply in rest of Europe. Coalition talks are normal, and may take time.

In a stable country, with stable institutions, this is not a problem. The system can run.

Posted on 10/7/17 | 12:22 PM CET

Hans Hupp

@Vishnou

The Dutch are aimless wanderers who have no policies and no direction so they don’t need a government. Just a 100 or so peace keepers to keep them safe.

Posted on 10/7/17 | 12:28 PM CET

Hans Hupp

Just stationary, stuck in the mud idle gypsies really.

Posted on 10/7/17 | 12:29 PM CET

Vishnou

@Hans Hupp: you obviously don’t appreciate the Dutch establishment although by your name you could be one of them. Are you in favour of Wilders? Let me set you at peace: I am not Dutch myself.

Posted on 10/7/17 | 1:50 PM CET

Hans Hupp

@Vishnou

I am from Latvia.
Where are you from? or are you too ashamed to name your country?

Posted on 10/7/17 | 2:23 PM CET

Hans Hupp.

@Vishnou

Thought so. Must be a pretty poor place that you come from if you cant even name it.
You shame your fathers.

Posted on 10/7/17 | 4:06 PM CET

Leonard Spencer

It helps that the Netherlands is already a fairly stable country, helped by having a consensus focused coalition system. Almost always will have a new coalition government one or more of the constituents of the previous government.

On top of that the country keeps the old government in place while the coalition discussions for the new government are ongoing, they just can’t take any controversial steps any more.